Pacific lawyers to replace fisheries boss

THERE are two definite frontrunners in the race for the position of Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency. Marshall Islands Attorney-General, Dr Filimon Manoni, and Tonga’s Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen were the definite top contenders to replace James Movick of the Federated States of Micronesia whose term ends this year. At the end of the 14th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting in Pasay City, the Philippines last month, Movick confirmed that nominations had been received for Manoni and Tupou-Roosen.

“Traditionally the post of DirectorGeneral has been held by a Pacific Islander with the Deputy DG from either Australia or New Zealand,” Movick said. “Nominations will close early in 2018 and then the Forum Fisheries Ministers will meet to decide on my replacement.

I must say, however, that there are many competent regional people who can take up the role and the process is moving ahead smoothly.” Tonga has started to lobby quietly for Tupou-Roosen who currently heads the FFA Legal Unit in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Small countries lose out

AFTER 14 meetings of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, one thing is obvious. The Distant Water Fishing Nations – China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States – continue to bully the owners of tuna stocks in the Pacific.

In fact the small Pacific fisheries nations who own up to 60 per cent of the global tuna were forced yet again into positions in which they made extreme concessions and put the sustainability of stocks at stake. Wez Norris, the outgoing deputy Director General of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) was blunt in his assessment of the 14th WCPFC held at Pasay City in the Philippines last month.

“Every single Pacific Island country gave up something both in terms of opportunities they had for development (and through measures) which come at a cost, but also provide potential for future benefit,” Norris said. “The five big distant-water longline fleets secured an approximately 10 per cent increase in their catch limits...

Fiji calls for understanding

AS the self-nominated representative for Small Island Developing States, Fiji has found itself in a position where it may have to fight a lone battle for tuna conservation.

The 14th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting this year appears no closer to agreeing on uniform conservation measures as national priorities outweigh regional obligations.

Fiji – as a signatory to the Tokelau Agreement on South Pacific Albacore – has agreed to limit its catch to 12,000 tonnes per year, a drop of 2000 tonnes.

“That is our commitment to the region and the need to ensure sustainable fisheries so that all countries can benefit,” said Fiji Fisheries Minister, Commander Semi Koroilavesau.

“Fiji has taken drastic measures to reduce our catch. We’ve accepted the cuts because they are necessary but (other countries) do not agree to cuts.

“We understand their difficulties. Their budgets are based on their fisheries industry which can make up 50 to 60 per cent of annual national budgets.”

In the spirit of the Tuna Commission (WCPFC), Koroilavesau is reluctant to name the offending nations but his reference is to Tuvalu and Kiribati, tuna-rich countries to Fiji’s north.

In 2015 year the Fiji fleet caught 7608 tonnes worth USD30 million.

By comparison over the same period Kiribati took in 149,314 tonnes worth USD233 million.

The total catch in Kiribati’s waters, including that caught by its foreign fleet, came to 641,119 tonnes worth a staggering $911million.

Tuvalu’s fleet caught 5175 tonnes worth USD9 million while the total catch in its waters came to 80,205 tonnes worth USD103 million.

“On the side lines of this and other meetings Fiji has been asking for some consideration so that we can also benefit from tuna fisheries but we can’t force anyone,” Koroilavesau said.

“The tuna that comes into Fiji waters travels from the north so we fully support the closure of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS) for three months and a cap on the harvests by national fleets.’’

A FADis a man-made object used to attract ocean going pelagic fish. Over 300 species of fish gather around FADs.

Some countries at the WCPFC have expressed reluctance to adhere to catch limitations and the closure of FADs, among them Kiribati.

Koroilavesau admitted that there was tension within the membership over the issue of FADs and harvesting.

“These issues have been pending for some years and we are hoping for a conclusion and some compromise,” the former navy officer said.

“We need consensus to agree on the basic facts of issues facing the commission.”

Koroilavesau said that despite the strong objections of other nations he remained optimistic.

“It’s important that there is support for limits, especially for a country like Fiji which relies on fish which travel through the waters of other sovereign nations before reaching us,” he said.

“If our neighbour agreed to limitations that would lead to an increase in the number of fish which we can harvest.

“A three-month FAD closure – and it looks like Kiribati has agreed to that – will have a huge impact on our stocks and the fisheries industry at home.”

That closure signals a shift in Kiribati’s stance on day one at the 14th WCPFC when Fisheries Minister, Tetabo Nakara highlighted the impact such a limitation would have on his country.

"Access fees from tuna fishing contributes more than 80 per cent toward the total government's annual expenditure that supports, amongst others, crucial funding for our education system, medical care, other basic needs that the government is obligated to deliver as services to its 110,000 inhabitants, as well as salaries of civil servants," he said.

With two days of talks remaining, it’s unclear how many other countries will be willing to make concessions.

Pacific lawyers to replace FFA chief

By NETANI RIKA, Pasay City, the Philippines

A TWO-WAY race is on for the position of Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency.

With the contract of incumbent James Movick ending in 2018, the search for his replacement appears to be narrowed to current Republic of the Marshall Islands Attorney-General, Dr Filimon Manoni, and Tonga’s Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen.

Manoni is a former FFA Legal Adviser while Tupou-Roosen currently serves in that position with the FFA headquarters in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Nominations for the position will close this week.

Tonga has started to lobby for Tupou-Roosen at the 14th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting at Pasay City in the Philippines.

CEO of the Tongan Fisheries Ministry, Tuikolongahau Halafihi, said his country’s nominee was a highly qualified candidate well-suited to the position.

“Dr Tupou-Roosen has vast experience not only in the laws regarding fisheries but also in the working of the FFA in which she has held a senior position for some time,” Halafihi said.

“Tonga would like to see her in the role of Director-General and we are talking to delegates here at WCPFC for their support.”

The second candidate – Manoni – is not new to the FFA but has a reputation for a hard stand on corruption in his home country. Although originally from Papua New Guinea, Manoni has worked in the Marshalls for a very long time.

Manoni’s no-nonsense attitude will be seen as a strength by the 17 FFA member-countries who constantly battle against large Distant Water Fishing Nations in legal negotiations and treaties on the use of regional fisheries.

Tupou-Roosen’s advantage will be her years of experience working with the FFA and its legal team.

Manoni has been nominated by the Marshall Islands.

Meanwhile, FFA Deputy Director-General Wez Norris’ term ends this year and he is expected to be replaced by a New Zealander with extensive experience at the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome.